Maybe it is just me and I don't know all the issues, but I think people vote for things they think sound the best for them or what a friend tells them to think is best. If there is one thing I learned from the Dam Project, you can not please everyone. So, what is the real purpose of running for election? The job, the prestige? The chance to push your agenda while ignoring those whom you step on?
Yesterday I helped out at the precinct for a couple hours. I was just there to hand out sample ballots. Why did I do this? I was asked to and had nothing really better to do. Had the other party asked me (and I should add been a roommate) would I have listened to them? Probably.
I got a little education on some property tax issue in my current place of residence. Of course I heard the side that wanted to lower it. I wasn't all that shocked to see some old lady refuse to listen to lower it (probably because she did not know the candidates running to lower it, she honestly thought she was doing the right thing, and she was probably a widow with a huge pocket book.)
I rent in a very wealthy neighborhood. I can see those voting to keep the high property tax or even raising it. Do they really think they are making the community better? The new TC Williams high school is getting a gigantic parking garage!
Or do they just want to snub out the people who are not as affluent? Birds of a father flock together?
It's all about who has the loudest voice and who can rally the most people. It is not about principles or even the common good. Once in office, the next election will base it's objections on what they feel you did wrong. There is no right answer, just who gets there first.
Posted by Michael at May 3, 2006 08:23 AMYou probably shouldn't vote if you don't have opinions of your own. It bugs me that so many Utahns vote here when they don't really care what the outcome of their vote will be. They just vote for the Republican because they think its the "Mormon" thing to do.
There are right answers and wrong answers and there are some issues that don't matter and are just based personal opinion. If a municipality is spending more money than it is receiving in tax revenue than the taxes should be raised or the spending should be cut...one of those has to happen eventually and it usually ends up being a campaign issue for one party or the other. If you care you should vote one way or the other. If you don't...stay home and watch a movie or something. Thats what I think anyway.
Posted by: Jeremy at May 3, 2006 12:39 PM